Folding box-table



W. M. WEBSTER AND G. D. WERNLI.

FDLDING BOX TABLE.

APPucATwN mm JULY 21. ms.

1,381,682. Patented June 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. M. WEBSTER AND G. D. WERNLI.

FOLDING BOX TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 11119121. I919.

Patented J 11119 14, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' Me/r Affomm UNITE srrATas PATENT OFFICE.

wrnnanin m. wnnsrnn m enonen n. wnnnm, or Los streams, canrnonma FOLDING BOX-TABLE.

Application filed July 21,

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that we, WILLARD M. Wnesm and Gnonen D. Wnanm,j citizens of the United States, both residin at Los An%les, in the county of Los Ange es, State of fornia, have 'ointly-invented new and useful Improvements? in Folding Box-Tables, of which the following is a s ecification.

The resent invention re ates to a folding box tab e and it is an object of the invention to provide a conveniengsimple and inexpensive folding table.

The resent invention provides a strong, convenient table that may be folded so as to form a neat box. Thehtable is particularly adapted fdr use on picnics, camping trips and the like, A feature of the invention is the convenience with which it may be carried on an automobile. The table when folded forms a neat box which may ver easily and conveniently be attached to t e running board of an automobile withoutxencumbering the machine or being unsightly. When the table is folded it forms a box in which provisions or articles of any kind may be carried.

When the table is set it forms a neat a peering sturdy table. he table not on y has a top but also has a shelf and a fly-proof cooler in connection with it. The shelf is mounted above the table and forms a place on which articles may be set in order to prevent the table from becoming crowded. The shelf makes it possible'to conveniently accommodate more people at the table than would be possible with an ordinary table of equal size. The cooler which is embodied in the table provides a compartment in which food or the like may be kept. The cooler is so arranged as to be below and independent of the to of the table and thereby out of the way at the same time being easily accessible. Due to the novel arrangement of the cooler with the rest of the table, food or other articles carried in the cooler when it is folded do not have to be removed in order to set the table up. This feature of the invention makes the table particularly hand as it makes the folding or erecting of t e table very simple. The cooler is so arranged that it is accessible either when the table is folded or unfolded; that is, it is not necessary to erect the table in order to get at the cooler.

A further feature of the invention is its simplicity. In the entire table there is no expensive construction or material required Specification of Letters Patent.

ali-

1819. Serial No. 312,355.

and repairs or replacements of parts are very inexpensive.

Further features of the invention as well as the details of, construction of a specific preferred form of the invention will be readily understood from the following de tailed description throughout which refer ence is had to the accompanying drawings. in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table when folded; Fig; 2 is a perspective view of the table when set up showing the shelf and the cooler; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the table showing it in the form of a folded box with suflicient parts removed to show the arrange-- m'ent of the legs, etc. in the box formed by the table when it is folded; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the table; Fig. 5 1s a sectional view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 4, showing the manner in which the table is fastened when in the form of a box; Fig. 7 is an an larged detail view showing the hinging of the cooler door; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed section'taken as indicated b line 8--8 on Fig. 3; and Fig. 9 is an en arged detailed view showing the mounting of the shelf on its supporting posts.

Throu bout the drawings numeral 10 designates t e top of the table which is supported by legs 11. The top 10 comprises a central panel 12 and two leaves 13. The

central panel 12 is loose and removable while i I Patented June 14, 1921..

the leaves 13 are hinged as will be herein after-described. A frame work comprising panel 12 and leaves 131 e central panel 12fits over the top of the frame work just described and has on its underside cleats 12 which fit within the frame and prevent the panel from becoming displacedi The panel 12 is not itself connected. in any way to the frame and may be easil removed. The leaves 13 are hinged to t e upper edges of side pieces 16 so that they may be swung out in the position shown in Fig. 2 or may be swung in as shown in Fig. 1. On the underside of leaves "13 there are cleats 13 which fit between the adjacent edges of side pieces 16 and 17. Attached to cleats 13 are keys 18 which are so arranged that they may be turned so as to lock the leaves 13 in the folded position as shown in Fig. 6. At the top Ind on the inner of each and 14 -ends 14, a bottom 15, u er side ieees 16 and lower side pieces li ikports t e center {her-r is a notch and attached to the inner si e of each end there is a. member 19 which arranged so as tov be flush with the top of each side 14. The notches in ends 14 and the members 19 form grooves 20 throu h which sticks 21 may be passed. The stic s 21 ere long enough to extend across the top in such a manner so as to support the leaves 13 by extending under them and through the grooves 20.

The bottom of the frame and side pieces.

17 form a tray below the top 10. A portion of the frame below top 10 forms a, cooler.

The cooler comprises ends 22. a back 23 and a door 24. The ends 22 extend upwardly from bottom 15 between side pieces 16 and 1?. The ends 22 extend up to and between side pieces 16 but do not extend to the top of said side pieces, as shown in Fig. 8. The so ends 22 are located between the ends 14 so as to leave a compartment 25 in each end of the frame. A cover 26 for the cooler extends between u per edges of ends 22 between sides 16. he cover 26 is not attached either o the sides 11' or the ends he removed from the cooler. There is a space between the cover 26 and the central panel whichwallow s air to circulate between the cooler and the top. thereby. making the as cooler more effective. The back of the cooler comprises a wire screening which extends from the lower edge of side 16 to the upper edge of side 17 and between the sides of ends The door 24 comprises a frame 27 which 1;.) its between the lower edge of side 16 and the upper edge of side 17 and extends between the ends 22. In the frame 27 there is a screening 29. The mi (.115 of pins 28 whch extend through ends 1 i the upper corners of frame 27. The

:ion just described provides a cooler worn food may be kept clean and cool.

-- 2-1 being hinged at the top as delows it. to hang in a closed position nes and makes it unnecessary to pro- .d doorwith a. clasp or catch. If it is l to get into the cooler without open- 2 the central panel 12 and the 3 may removed. This may easily one wiihonr folding or displacing the table in any way. The compartments 25 etween the ends 14 and the ends 22 provide places in which articles may be kept that do not need to be put in the cooler.

Ar the outer upper corners of ends 14 are bran-hots 3%. which form sockets in which posts 3; lit. Posts 31 fit in sockets 30 and extend shove top 10. Mounted on theupper 4 posts 31 is a shelf 32. In the shelf in hole 33 in which pins 34 formed is of po ts 33. fir. The posts 31 are sort. r ner 11s to allow shelF 232 the same length low said posts to '1- sides u," ends 14 and w obs-swung up. 22 and mayeesily poraril door 24 is hinged by center panel 12, as shown 1,381 sea engage the shelf in the manner just described. The shelf'32 being mounted above the top 10 as described does not interfere with the top or decrease the size of the top. Although the shelf 32 is provided with the table it will be readily understood that the table may be used equally well with or without said shelf.

There are two su porting 1e ll'at each end of the table. Iiibunted on t e outer side in the center of ends 14 are handles 40 and near the lower corners of the ends are brackets 41. The legs 11 extend through brackets 41 and fit into handles 40 as clear] shown in Fig. 2. On the outer side of eac legll there is a spring catch 42 which keep the legs in position. The legs 11 fit loosely enough in brackets 41 and handle 40 so that they may be easily disengaged when so desired.

If for any reason it is desired to shield the table, for i slfince, on a. wind; do one of the sideleeves can hen one of the side leaves is turned up and tem orarily fastened it forms a very efiective s the top.

The foregoing description explains the arrangement of the table when iuis set up. I

When the table is folded the various parts hereinabove described are arran to form a neat box as shown in lg. 1. To fold the table the shelf 32 is "disenga d from posts 31 and the posts 31 are tfi n disengaged from sockets 30. The center panel 12 and the cover 26 may then be tome removed and the (:00 er. Then by removing the sticks .21 the leaves 13 may be folded F ig. 1 and locked by keys 18. The is be removed by merely pulling them oug brackets 41. e cover 26 having been placed n-the cooler the legs 11 and the sticks 21 may be laced'on' said top, as shown in Fi 3 an sticks have t us been placed on the cover 26 the center panel 12 may be ut in position. The shelf 32 may then be paced on top of in Fig. 1 The than the center shelf 32 is a little longer panel 12 and its ends therefore 'eht a little beyond the panel 12. Attac the top and in the center of the outer side of ends- 14 are hooks 44 which'enguge eyes 45 in the underside of shelf 32 and thereby hold the shelf firmly on the center panel 12. muy be easil carried or handled the handles 40. is has been hereinabove teted it is not necessary to remove articles from the compartment 25o:- from the cooler 24 in order to fold or set up the table.

The foregoing description being of a spe- ('lfiC p 'eferred form of the invention we do not wish to limit ourselves, to the particular if the table is being used ield for the rest of the posts 31 placed in in, as shown in 8. When the legs "and The table then forms a neatbox which iaomemes construction or details hereinabove set forth but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or modification that may be suggested to those skilled in the art or fall within the scolpe of the following claims.

aving described a preferred form of our invention, we claim:

1. In a table of the character described, a box embodying a removable top, a bottom, ends, side rails and havin unclosed sides side leaves hinged to said fiox and adapted to be swung upwardly to form a table with said top and to be swung against said side rails to form sides for the box, said top being removable independently of said side leaves, whereby access may be obtained to the box throu h the top when the sides are swung downwar 1y, means to support said leaves in said first-mentioned position, means to lock the leaves in said side-forming position and legs detachably connected to said box.

2. A table of the character described, comprising a box embodying a removable top, a bottom, ends, side rails, and havin unclosed sides, side leaves hinged to sai box and adapted to be swung u wardly to form a table with said top and to e swung against said side rails to form sides for the box, said top being removable independently of said side leaves whereby access may be obtained to the box through the top when the side leaves are swung downwardly, and means operative when said leaves are moved to said side-forming position to lock the leaves in this position.

3. In a table of the character described, a box embodying a removable top, a bottom, ends, and side rails and havin unclosed sides, side leaves hinged to said box and adapted to be swung upwardly to form a table with said top and to be swung against said side rails to form sides for the box, a

compartment in said box having a removable top and door opening from the side of said box and means to lock said leaves in each of said ositions.

4. In a tab e of the character described, a box embodying a removable top, a bottom ends, and side rails and having unclosed sides, side leaves hinged to said box and adapted to be swung upwardly to form a table with said top and to be swung against said side rails to form sides for the box, a compartment in said box having a removable top and door openin from the side of said box, a shelf for sai table extending over said top, detachable legs for supporting said shelf, and means for locking said shel over said top.

,5. In a table of the character described, a

box embodying a removable top, a bottom ends, and side rails and havin unclosed sides, said. leaves hinged to sai box and adapted to be swung upwardly to form a table with said top and to be swung against said side rails to' form sides for the box, a compartment in said box having a removable top and door opening from the side of said box, a shelf for said table extending over saidtop, detachable legs for supportitxgg said shelf, and lo a detachably connec to the ends of said ox.

In witness that we "claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 14th day of July, 1919.

WILLARD M. WEBSTER. GEORGE D. WERNLI.

Witness Vmomm I. Bnmnonn. 

